A Ledger Blog

A pathfinder's paradise for backpacking, hiking and Scouting.

Autumn is closing in fast, and with that comes cooler weather and the need for many to consider some new outdoor equipment. Scouts who just grew half a foot over the summer will need new clothes, especially new boots or shoes. Active outdoor enthusiasts are almost always gear-centric, in constant search of the newest gear gadgets to enhance their outdoor experiences. Virtual shopping provides the most gratifying gear-up experience because of its convenience and cost savings. It can also come… Read More »

The Boy Scouts of America announced via its daily Bryan on Scouting blog that Philmont’s familiar two-man Thunder Ridge tent manufactured by MSR was now available for sale. Author Gretchen Sparling, the BSA’s associate editor of Scouting and Eagles on Call magazines, had the honor of revealing that the highly regarded manufacturer of high-end outdoor gear worked closely with the BSA to create the Philmont-ready backpacking tent. I love MSR and the gear they produce. I’ve purchased plenty of their gear through the… Read More »

Three boys from my Tampa Boy Scout troop, including my son, just received their Eagle Scout medals at a special Court of Honor held Sunday on their behalf. All three boys are high school scholars with an unweighted GPA of 4.0. All three are in AP or honors courses and are members of the National Honor Society. One graduated and received a scholarship to study at the University of South Florida. All three boys are leaders in their school and… Read More »

I credit one of my scouts from Troop 22, Garrett Fiss, for coming up with this idea. He showed it to me during a pack shakedown and I thought it was very clever and worthy of sharing. There was a time when old plastic 35mm film canisters worked to fill this need, but the newer style of paint container for children’s paint sets works very well. Of course, all you need to do is to make sure you thoroughly clean out… Read More »

About This Blog

Kim Fatica is a marketing professional and former Emmy Award-winning television photojournalist and operations manager originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He’s also a lifelong volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, where he’s been involved with the program since he was a Cub Scout in 1970. He earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1976 and continued on in service as an adult leader, currently serving as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 22 in Tampa.

He lived his dream of backpacking through the Sangre de Cristo mountain range with his son, Noah, at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The 12-day trek during the summer of 2012 took them on a memorable 80-mile journey that went through areas near the historic Santa Fe Trail.

Kim earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Bowling Green State University and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.